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(No Model.)

P. J. LENNON. COVERING FOR RUNWAYS, &c. No. 554,129. Patentd Feb. 4, 189

INVENTOH A TTOHNE Y8.

AHDRZW EGRAHANL PNOTOUDIQWASHINGTUKJE,

NlTED STATES ATENT Fries.

COVERING FOR RUNWAYS, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,129, dated February 4, 1896. Application filed August 9, 1895. Serial No. 558,731. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK J. LENNON, of

New York city, in the county and State of New York,have invented a new andlmproved Covering for Runways, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in coverings for runways, &c., such as are employed in stables for enabling horses and other animals to pass from one floor of the stable to another; and the object of the invention is to provide a covering for such runways as well as for other floor-surfaces, adapted to provide a secure and substantial foothold to persons and animals passing thereon, whereby slipping and falling is prevented.

The invention consists in part in a covering formed of a series of narrow elastic strips of rubber or the like arranged side by side with their edges overlapping, whereby the fastening devices employed for holding said strips in place are covered over and protected, and in part in an improved construction of the strips employed in tubular form, whereby they are made more elastic and durable.

The invention also contemplates certain novel features of construction and arrangements and combinations of parts, whereby certain important advantages are attained, and the covering is made more durable, economical, and otherwise better adapted for use than similar devices heretofore employed, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be fully defined in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a runway or equivalent device provided with a covering embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view drawn to an enlarged scale and showing a fragment of the same. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modified arrangement of the floor-covering; and Fig. 4: is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, but showing still another modified arrangement of the floor-covering embodying my improvements.

Referring primarily to Figs. 1 and 2, A represents the runway proper, which may be of the usual or any preferred construction, and B B represent the elastic strips secured there on. These strips B will be by preference sections of rubber tubing, of suitable diameter and substantially equal length, laid flat and extending across the runway A and tacked along their upper edges, as clearly seen at O in Fig. 1, by means of tacks or nails 0 of suitable size and strength, where by the said strips are securely held in place on the runway, the strips being so arranged that the free edge I) of one strip laps over the tacks or nails 0 of the next adjacent strip. B y this construction the nails or tacks employed in securing the tubes in position will be protected and a step-like form given to the covering, so as to give a secure foothold and thereby prevent slipping.

In order to hold the free edges b of the several strips down, so that the covering will present a substantially even and level surface, and to prevent the said edges from projecting upward to be caught by the feet in passing over the covering, I prefer to nail each of said free edges b down at each end by means of a tack or nail l), driven through it and the underlying edge of the next adjacent strip B, as clearly seen in Fig. 1.

The construction of the covering as above described is very simple and durable, and affords an excellent foothold to persons and animals passing over it. The strips B may be made conveniently of ordinary rubber-hose pipe, cut to the required length, or any other material suited to the purpose may be employed therefor-such, for example, as sheetrubber cut into strips and overlapped, as described. In most cases it is preferable to form the strips in the nature of tubes, in order to increase the elasticity and the hold of the feet thereon, but this is not in all cases es sential.

The construction shown in Fig. 3 is very similar to that above described, except that the free edges of the strips are arranged uppermost and lap over the lower edges of the adjacent strips, which are securely tacked or nailed down to the runway in a manner similar to the upper edges of the strips B. (Seen in Figs. 1 and 2.) This arrangement of the device is more especially adapted for use on very steep runways or inclines, but may be used in other cases also.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4: the strips B are not overlapped, but are tacked along the opposite edges, which are arranged closely adjacent to each other, by means of tacks (1, whereby it will be seen that the portions of the said strips between said rows of tacks project up and form elastic cushions, serving to give a good hold to the feet of the person or animal passing thereover.

From the above description of my improved covering it will be obvious that its use is not limited to runways in stables and the like, but it may also be applied with good results to gangways of steamers and ways and paths for other purposes, as well; and it will also be evident that some change may be made in the form and arrangement of the covering, without material departure from the principles of the invention, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction of the covering herein shown and described.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1 A covering for runways and the like, co1nprising a series of flexible tubes arranged in close proximity and parallel, said tubes having a longitudinally-fiattened portion, and fastening nails or tacks arranged in close relation and driven through the flattened portions of the tubes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A covering for runways,thc same consisting of a series of flexible tubes arranged parallel with each other and having fastening devices passed through one edge of each tube and into the runway, the free edge of each tube being arranged to overlap the secured edge of the contiguous tube whereby a steplike form is given to the covering, substantially as described.

FRANK J. LENNON.

Vitnesses:

J. D. CAPLINGER, O. SEDewIoK. 

